Luke indicated that Jesus said to them (εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς) that whoever came to him (Εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρός με) had to hate or love less (καὶ οὐ μισεῖ), his father (τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ), his mother (καὶ τὴν μητέρα), his wife (καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα), his children (καὶ τὰ τέκνα), his brothers (καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς), his sisters (καὶ τὰς ἀδελφάς), and his own life itself (ἔτι τε καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ). Otherwise, they were not able to be his disciples (οὐ δύναται εἶναί μου μαθητής). This verse is similar to Matthew, chapter 10:37, indicating a Q source. Matthew indicated that Jesus called for an unconditional love with this harsh saying. If you loved your mother or father more than Jesus (Ὁ φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος). If you loved your son or daughter more than Jesus (καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), then you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος). There were no halfway measures. Luke also indicated that Jesus had to come first over all original family members, father, mother, brothers, and sisters, as well new family members like a wife and children. All had to be esteemed less than Jesus. Otherwise, they could not be his disciples. Do you love Jesus more than any of your own family members?

Luke indicated that Jesus responded to this man (εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ) who wanted to bury his father. He told him to let the dead (Ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς) bury their own dead (θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς). He wanted him to go forth and proclaim (σὺ δὲ ἀπελθὼν διάγγελλε) the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ). This saying of Jesus is almost the same as in Matthew, chapter 8:22, indicating a possible Q source. Once again, this is a harsh saying about the discipleship of Jesus. Matthew indicated that Jesus’ response was not very compassionate. Quite the opposite, Jesus told his follower to follow him. Jesus added, that the dead should bury their own dead. This seems to deny any mourning period. Although the burying of a dead father was a sacred filial duty, Jesus put the role of discipleship above that. Is proclaiming the message of Jesus more important than the funeral of your father?

Luke indicated that Jesus said to another person (Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς ἕτερον) to follow him (Ἀκολούθει μοι). However, this person responded (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν) to Jesus by calling him “Lord (Κύριε)”. He wanted to be allowed to first go away (Ἐπίτρεψόν μοι πρῶτον ἀπελθόντι) and bury his father (θάψαι τὸν πατέρα μου). This saying of Jesus is almost the same in Matthew, chapter 8:21, indicating a possible Q source. Once again, this is a harsh saying about the discipleship of Jesus. Matthew said that another follower of Jesus said to him, calling him the “Lord” (Κύριε) that he wanted to bury his father first, as it was the Jewish custom and an important Jewish responsibility to bury people within 7 days. How important was burying your father to you?

This verse of Matthew is similar to Luke, chapter 14:26, indicating a Q source. Jesus called for an unconditional love with this harsh saying. If you loved your mother or father more than Jesus (Ὁ φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος). If you loved your son or daughter more than Jesus (καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), then you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος). There were no halfway measures.

This saying of Jesus is almost the same in Luke, chapter 9:59-60, indicating a possible Q source. Once again, this is a harsh saying about discipleship of Jesus. Another follower of Jesus (τερος δὲ τῶν μαθητῶν) said to him (εἶπεν αὐτῷ), calling him the “Lord” (Κύριε) that he wanted to be allowed to bury his father first (ἐπίτρεψόν μοι πρῶτον ἀπελθεῖν καὶ θάψαι τὸν πατέρα μου), as it was the Jewish custom to bury people within 7 days. However, Jesus’ response was not very compassionate. Quite the opposite, Jesus told his follower (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτῷ), a true disciple of Jesus who was a “μαθητῶν,” to follow him (Ἀκολούθει μοι). Jesus added, that the dead should bury their own dead (καὶ ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς). This seems to deny any mourning period.